ATC wants new power line in southern Rock County

American Transmission Co. wants to rebuild a 20-mile, 69,000-volt line between the Colley Road substation in Beloit and the Brick Church substation in Walworth.

The company said in a news release the project is needed to replace aging infrastructure and help ensure electric reliability by relieving potential constraints due to projected load growth.

ATC hopes to get state approval for the project this fall and begin construction in 2015. If that schedule holds, the new line would be in service in 2018, the company said.

The project would involve stringing new wires and replacing aging wood transmission poles with new steel poles.

The current route will generally be maintained, though minor adjustments are planned to improve design efficiency, the company said. Spans will be increased where possible to minimize the total number of structures.

The new substation would be constructed on about 10 acres of land ATC owns near Clinton.